The Irish standard., 1887-01-15

puts their friends when they die)-and
what should ] find there, but a great
parcel OF chests, or coftins, as thought
they were at first, which tn y wor not,
being made of iron; as found out when
I struck my crow again 'em. Well,
when found that, went out an stopt
up the hole again, for fear any one
would find it out upon me, says l to my
self, until / come tonight and know
more about it, Well an good-when it
was dark, I came back myself, an my
commerade along id me, an we went in
to the same place wild candle an a
dark lantern, an we broke the chests
wid crowbar, an what should we ind
in them CHATS in one Of 'em), but little
bars like this I showed you, piled top
o one another, yard high-an' { de-
clare i'll think it's goold, eh? though /
wouldn't give into it before strangers.
There was another O. the chests full o.
eandlesticks-and more of 'em wild cross
es, an cups, an. rings, an fine shinen
stones-so we took 'en all out o that.
an buried 'em in another place, in dread
the landlord, if he come to hear of it,
would come down on us wild the Royalty
o. the place, an take every whole tote to
himself. So you wort tell anybody
only if you had friend that would give
us little monies we'd give him bar
gain-for I'm afeared to speak to the
goldsmits in Dublin or anywhere, i'll
dread he'd challenge us openly wild 'em,
and maybe all we'd get for 'em is no.
thing, and go to Jail besides
care you willing, chen to part with
this bar which hold in my hand?" said
Shine, after some hesitation, during
which he began to jingle few old pis-
toles u coin then current among others
i'll the country in the tapped pocket Of
his waistcoat-the remnant of his divi-
dend from late field collection.
30, af got anything for it that would
be worth mentioning--or as much rs
would carry me To-
The speaker interrupted himself in
the midst of a sentence, to gaze with
ailated and wondering eyes on the ex-
panded hand of Shine, which exposed
three shining pieces--at the same time
that the ingot was elevated i'll the other
in manner which seemed to propose q
| choice between both, to hiM who owned
the latter. The other, fool as he was,
understood the action. but appeared to
dislike the bargain. for he snatched his
ingot, and thrust it into hiss breast
shutting his eyes-and waving his head
in token Of refueal Shine placed an
other piece iu his hand--Maney again
produced an ipgot, and tossed it to the
preacher, while lie gathered with his
long, knobbed fingers, the four pieces
from the fat hand in which they were
placed. .
It's brass, though, mind. 1t would
rune me, ,av you said otherwise--an' sure
two1ldn't be the case neither.''
Shine laughed, although slight
qualm troubled his conscience when lie
considered the great difference between
the value of the article and the price
| which the fool had consented to take
Tor it.
"I'll see you another time, an I'll
tell you oil about the ould Abbey and
everything" said Nancy, rs he turned
to depart.
s'You say you have more Of these,
friend Maney? said Shine. The fool
nodded an assent, ''You'l find me
liberal, concluded the preacher.
Shine did not at all like the express
sion OF Maney's eyes when he said this,
There was an ugly light about them
which made the preachers heart sink
within him. Before he had time to digest
the half-awakenea inquletude however,
the back door again opened, and Spell
lacy entered alone.
He took off lis hat and bowed to the
doctor-spoke to Nancy as to one we'll
known to him-and bade him go re-
lieve &witzer from the care of the horses
adding something in whisper which
did not reach the preachers ears. Ma
ney departed, laying his finger on his
lips, i'll token Of secrecy, as he locked
at the preacher. Spellacy went into
the inner room, and Shine remained in
the chimney-corner, his heart huctuat-
ing between compunction for the knav-
cry he had been guilty Of, qualification
at his gain. and alarm at the recollec-
tion of Maney's parting glance; though
an Indifferent person could see no fur
ther inference to be deduced from it than
a testimony a great feeb]eness of con-
scious wrong, which it was in the
power Of natural stupidity to abash SO
easily.